Study revealed: Belief in conspiracies and alternative medical preferences influence attitudes to cancer prevention
Study revealed: Belief in conspiracies and alternative medical preferences influence attitudes to cancer prevention
Findings of a study on attitudes and beliefs regarding cancer prevention in vaccination opponents, flat-care and reptile conspiracy theorists
A study recently published in the British Medical Journal examined the attitudes and beliefs for cancer prevention in people who reject vaccinations against Coronavirus (Covid-19) (vaccination opponent), flat-care and supporters of reptile conspiracy theories. The identification of factors that predispose people for cancer is the most important step to ensure that they adhere to the guidelines for cancer prevention. Difficulties differ in the distinction between actual reasons for cancer of mythological reasons due to the amount of data, not all of which are scientifically validated. In addition, the data for vaccination or belief in conspiracy theories, such as the shape of the earth and to reptiles, which are related to the attitudes and beliefs of people for cancer prevention.
about the study
In this cross-sectional survey-based study, researchers for the first time provided data on the beliefs about the actual and mythological causes of cancer, based on vaccination preferences and belief in conspiracy. The data on cancer prevention were mainly related from the Spanish ForoCoches ForoCoches and other platforms such as 4chan, Reddit, Hispachan, Mediavida, Taringa and Burbuja Info as well as the Spanish -speaking website Mejorsicancer.org between January and March 2022. In addition, the survey was posted in Telegram groups, the title of which contained words such as "Flat Earth", "Reptilians" and "Anti-Vaxxers". Interested parties took part in the study, which were not selected online. Among them were 209 people who had not received COVID-19 vaccinations, 112 people who preferred alternative medicine, and 62 people who adhered to reptile or Flat Earth beliefs.The primary result parameters of the study were the crab beliefs that were recorded with the help of the "Cancer Awareness Measure" (CAM) and the "Cam mythical Causes Scale" (cam-mycs). The survey contained questions about gender, age, nationality, residential country, level of education, profession, preferences for traditional or alternative medication, SARS-COV-2 vaccinations, smoke habits, alcohol consumption, height and weight as well as personal cancer history.
results
A total of 1,754 people took part in the survey. However, 14 answers showed similar values for all cancer beliefs and were considered inferior and excluded from the analysis. Nine and 232 people were excluded from the remaining participants, in which data on Covid-19 vaccinations or cancer beliefs were missing. In addition, five people and 57 people were excluded who did not answer all questions related to the cam or the conspiracy theories. A total of 1,494 survey answers for the final analysis were taken into account.
The full participants had a greater probability that they were at the age of 25 to 44 years, European descent and high. Your data was mainly covered by Forocoches compared to the partial survey participants. Among the full participants, 14% (n = 209) of the people had received no covid-19 vaccinations and 4.0% (n = 62) were flat-care or supporters of reptile displacement theories. In addition, 8.0% (n = 112) of the people preferred alternative medication compared to traditional medication.
The actual knowledge of crab seediology was significant compared to mythological knowledge (median cam score 64% compared to 42%). The most recognized actual crab seiologies included the consumption of genetically modified foods or those with sweeteners or additives as well as increased stress. Knowledge of the actual and mythological causes of cancer in conspiracy theorists and non-vaccinated people who preferred alternative medication was less compared to non-dwelling believers, vaccinated and people who preferred traditional medicine. The median values were 55.0% for the actual crab seediologies that correctly identified in the non -vaccinated persons who preferred alternative medication and the conspiracy theorists, and 64% for the actual cancer sets that were identified by the corresponding comparison. The median values were 25%, 17% and 17% for people who correctly identified mythological crab seediologies, were not vaccinated, alternative medication preferred and believed in conspiracy theories. The median value was 42.0% for the identification of crayfish.
In the participants, 45% (n = 673) stated that cancer is apparently caused by everything. There were no statistically significant differences between the non-vaccinated (44.0%), conspiracy believers (42.0%) or people who preferred alternative medication (36.0%), compared to their corresponding comparison (45.0%, 46.0%or 46.0%). Overall, the results of the study illustrate the difficulties that society has in the distinction between the actual causes and the mythological causes of cancer due to the massive spread of data. Conspiration believers, vaccination opponents and people who prefer alternative medication tend to support mythological cancer seiologies than their appropriate counterparts.
Overall, this study provides important insights into the attitudes and beliefs for cancer prevention in different groups. This information can be used to develop better strategies for the clarification and prevention of cancer and improve public health.
reference:
Sonia Patyubi et al. BMJ 2022; 379: E072561 | DOI: 10.1136/BMJ-2022-072561